News Archives

At the invitation of President Hamid Karzai, Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif visited Afghanistan today. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Advisor on National Security and Foreign Policy Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Mr. Tariq Fatemi, Mr . Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Foreign Secretary, Secretary Planning and Development and other high ranking officials.

During the visit, the Prime Minister and the President of Afghanistan had a one-on-one meeting, followed by delegation-level talks. The two leaders later addressed a Joint Press Stakeout. President Karzai hosted a lunch in honour of the Prime Minister, which was attended by the Afghan Cabinet Ministers, notables from cross-section of Afghan society, and members of the diplomatic corps in Kabul.

The meetings were held in a warm and cordial atmosphere. The two leaders had extensive and in-depth consultations on bilateral relations, Afghan peace and reconciliation process, and situation in the region with particular reference to NATO/ISAF troop draw down in 2014.

The Prime Minister reiterated his conviction that peace and stability in Afghanistan are in Pakistan's vital interest. He reaffirmed Pakistan's strong support and facilitation for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. The Prime Minister emphasized that an inclusive political settlement remained central to ensuring sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister underlined Pakistan's commitment to fight extremism and terrorism, which remained a formidable challenge faced by both countries and the region. He assured President Karzai that Pakistan would also help reinforce regional efforts in support of Afghanistan. The Prime Minister further stressed that the international community should stay engaged for the reconstruction and economic development of Afghanistan.

President Karzai underlined the importance Afghanistan attached to its relations with Pakistan, continued cooperation to address common challenges including extremism and terrorism, and efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. The President of Afghanistan further underlined the importance of Pakistan's endeavors to support the Afghan peace and reconciliation process and deeply appreciated Pakistan's efforts for the promotion of this objective.

As a gesture of solidarity with the brotherly Afghan people, the Prime Minister announced to enhance Pakistan's commitment of assistance for reconstruction and socio-economic development in Afghanistan from US $ 385 million to US $ 500 million.

It was also agreed to enhance connectivity between Pakistan and Afghanistan, including through a motorway between Peshawar and Kabul and rail links between Peshawar and Jalalabad and Chaman and Spinbolduk. Both sides committed to accelerate the realization of trans-regional projects including CASA-1000 and TAPI gas pipeline.

The Prime Minister expressed his resolve to further deepen and broaden the Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relationship in all spheres. He stressed that bilateral relations must be underpinned by a strong trade and economic partnership. The Afghan side reciprocated the desire to deepen the bilateral relationship, with a particular focus on expanded trade, economic cooperation, and trans-regional projects for connectivity. Both leaders pledged efforts to enhance bilateral trade to US $ 5 billion by 2015.

Mr. Salahuddin Rabbani, Chairman of the High Peace Council (HPC), alongwith a delegation, also called on the Prime Minister. The delegation was assured that Pakistan would continue to extend all possible support to facilitate peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The HPC thanked the Prime Minister for extending wholehearted support to the peace process in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister's visit to Afghanistan was part of the efforts to build cooperative ties with all of Pakistan's neighbours that would contribute to the realization of his vision of a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood.

Earlier, at the invitation of the Prime Minister, President Hamid Karzai had visited Pakistan on 26-27 August 2013.

The Prime Minister's visit has carried forward the positive momentum in bilateral relations. The two sides are committed to work together to promote the shared objectives of peace, stability and economic development in the region.

Pakistan attaches utmost importance to the development of health and education sectors in Afghanistan, Ambassador Sadiq.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, while addressing a sending off ceremony arranged by the Pakistan Embassy for Afghan students proceeding to various Pakistani Universities under a scholarship programme, said that Pakistan accorded significant importance to the development and strengthening of health and education sectors in Afghanistan. In this regard. Pakistan had accomplished a number of projects. he said, for the well-being of Afghans in the health and education sectors particularly the constructions of Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering University in Balkh, Rehman Baba Hostel, Kabul, Allama Iqbal Faculty of Humanities, Kabul University, Sir Syed Post Graduate Faculty of Sciences, Nangarhar University, Jalalabad, Nishter Kidney Centre, Jalalabad, 400-beds Jinnah Hospital, Kabul, 200-beds NaebAminullah Khan Hospital, Logar and 73 Km Torkham – Jalalabad dual carriageway.

Ambassador Sadiq added that the people of Afghanistan had been benefiting from these projects. Highlighting the importance of education, he advised that education was a key to success and urged the students to concentrate on their studies and play their role in the capacity building and development of Afghanistan.

Speaking on the occasion, the Ambassador said that Pakistan had been offering fully funded scholarships to Afghan students since 2009 under the Prime Minister of Pakistan's Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Students, and currently, about 2000 Afghan students, have been studying in various disciplines including medical, engineering, agriculture, computer science, business administration and economics in top universities of Pakistan.

This year 600 Afghan students would be proceeding to Pakistan in pursuit of higher education in various disciplines funded by Pakistan, he said. He went on to add that more than 30,000 Afghan had graduated from the educational institutions of Pakistan during the last three decades and most of them have returned to their homeland and are playing a significant role in the reconstruction, capacity building and socio-economic uplift of their country. He said that such programmes would go, indeed a long way in promoting education in Afghanistan as well as people to people contacts between the two countries.Kabul: November 10, 2013

The test earlier scheduled to be held on 29th June 2013 for 600 scholarship offered for study in Pakistani Colleges/Universities, is Postponed. The applicants are advised to apply through Afghan Ministry of Higher Education for the scholarship scheme. New date for the test will be announced after recommendation of the Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan are received.

Afghan students are invited to apply for 600 scholarships offered for the year 2013-14 to study in Pakistani Colleges/Universities. The students would be required to undertake English Language Test in Embassy of Pakistan, Karte Parwan, Kabul on 29th June 2013 (Saturday), at 0800 hours. Students should bring the following documents for the test:

The Comsats Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) of Pakistan has opened admissions for international students (including Afghan students) in various Master and Undergraduate degree programs for Fall Semester 2013. CIIT has also offered MS scholarships for the nominees of Zaid universality, USheikh Kabul University, Nangarhar University and Herat University. All details regarding admission are available at CIIT website: http://www.comsats.edu.pk under the Tab International Students and flyer for international students Admission 2013.

Pakistan Day was celebrated at Pakistan Embassy, Kabul, with zeal and fervor to commemorate the passage of Lahore Resolution which paved the way for the creation of an independent homeland for the Muslims of the South Asian sub-continent. The Pakistan Day ceremony started with the recitation of Holy Quran followed by the national anthem and hoisting of Pakistan flag by Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq. Hundreds of the Pakistani community members, including senior executives, businessmen, educationists, doctors and other professionals attended the ceremony.

Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq in his address highlighted the historical significance of Pakistan's Resolution of 23rd March, 1940 which resulted in the emancipation of the Muslims of South Asia from the British colonial rule. He said that we need to follow the guiding principles of the father of nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah i.e. Unity, Faith and Discipline.

Ambassador Sadiq also underscored the importance of Pak-Afghan ties and underlined the need for closer cooperation in the areas of trade, economy, culture and education for mutual benefit of the two brotherly countries. He said Pakistan had tremendously contributed to the social and economic development of Afghanistan. The Ambassador highlighted the projects built with Pakistan's bilateral assistance in the education and health sectors in Afghanistan particularly the construction of Allama Iqbal Arts Faculty in University of Kabul, Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering University in Bulkh, Jinnah Hospital in Kabul, Nishtar Kidney Center in Jalalabad, Jalalabad-Torkham Road and the provision of three thousand scholarships for the Afghan students..

The Ambassador said Pakistan and Afghanistan were facing the challenges of terrorism and its elimination required enhanced and closer cooperation by the both sides.

Ambassador Sadiq urged the Pakistani community and Embassy officials to work with renewed commitment and dedication to serve their homeland.